A student rights organization has criticized the arrest of 48 Federal Polytechnic Bauchi students who were protesting poor campus security following a violent robbery and rape incidents.
The Take It Back (TIB) Movement accused school management and security agencies of using excessive force against students who were demanding better protection after criminals attacked the male hostel on Monday night.
According to the polytechnic’s Registrar, Kasimu Salihu, armed robbers broke into the male hostel, stealing phones and laptops while injuring two students.
The attack prompted students to gather at the school’s main gate Tuesday morning, calling for improved security measures.
Instead of dialogue, security forces responded with teargas and mass arrests.
The Bauchi State Police Command confirmed that 48 students and 16 suspected robbers were detained during the confrontation.
Nazeef Bashi, the TIB Movement‘s Bauchi coordinator, said some students have since been released following public pressure and intervention efforts.
He accused authorities of intimidation tactics, claiming an NSCDC officer forcibly took a student’s phone while the student was documenting events from the Mandela Compound.
“Educational institutions should be sanctuaries of learning, not battlegrounds of repression,” Bashi said in a statement.
He criticized the polytechnic management for working with security forces to suppress student concerns rather than addressing the underlying safety issues.
The TIB Movement is calling for several actions:
- Return of the confiscated phone and an apology to the student
- An end to arbitrary arrests and intimidation of students
- Accountability from polytechnic management
- Respect for students’ constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and free speech
Bashi emphasized that students should be able to voice concerns about their safety without facing retaliation.
The group vowed to continue advocating for student rights until meaningful changes are implemented.
